June 1, 2006

Hi DruMMers Paradise People!

I Hope I find You ALL Well & Happy >>> I’ve Re~Visited a GREAT Rudimentary ExCercise ReCeNtly whiCh I thouGht would be Usefull to ALL You DruMMers & PerCussionists out there! >>>

BeCause of My New Endorsement with TRUELINE DrumSticks, I’ve been Really Enjoying Beating Out Rudiments on My Practice Pad.
To test out the BalanCe & Feel of My New StiCks I came baCk to a Rudiment ExCercise I’ve always liked a Great Deal >>>

It came from oNe of Simon Phillips’ Ideas which I caMe across Years ago oN a “Zildjian Day in London” Video >>>
I Very sliGhtly adapted the Snare Drum Rudiment He Played infront of a Live Audience to make it a little more “Do~able”!!!

So here it is…………”Singles~Doubles~Triples~Quads”

RLRLRLRL (8 Singles) RRLLRRLL (4 Doubles) RRRLLLRRR (3 Triples) LLLLRRRRLLLL (& 3 Quads)

Play this at aN EVEN, FLOWING Tempo as a Smooth Looping Figure. >>> If You are Left Handed Maybe start the Excercise from the LEFT HAND. >>>

I have found also that if You ADD a 4th QUAD the Rhythm will CHANGE DIRECTION & You will be automatically Leading from the opposite Hand!! >>> COOL HUH? >>> Like this…….>>>

RLRLRLRL RRLLRRLL RRRLLLRRR LLLLRRRRLLLLRRRR LRLRLRLR LLRRLLRR LLLRRRLLL RRRRLLLLRRRRLLLL etc.

I’ve put Spacing in this ONLY to make it Read Better!! >>> It is intended to be a Steady Stream of 8th Notes/Quavers. >>>

Playing this at a FiXed Tempo of Your Choice will open up Your Wrists & Help You to Develop More STRENGTH & SPEED in Your Hands >>> Helping the Muscles & Tendons in Your HANDS, WRISTS & FOREARMS to Build better Muscle~Memory!! >>>
WhiCh is ALWAYS a GOOD THING! >>> & with My TRUELINE “Power Grip” Sticks I can practically FEEL My Muscles Developing as I Play!!! >>>

Hope You have a Bit of Fun with this, Maybe try Playing along in Time to Your Current Favourite Track or Piece of Music!
How about Using the MP3 on this Very Site!!! Just a ThouGht!!!

PeAcE & Inspiring Rhythmic Ideas,

*** <<< SiMoN the DF >>> ***

May 18, 2006

On 13th May 2006 BILLY WARD was presented with the Gift of a “DF Wear” T-Shirt, Signs of LIFE Volume 2 Album & The F&R Trio Album “Rainshine” in Croydon in South LONDON by Simon Greenhill the Daddy Funk!!! >>>

Billy Ward’s Drum Clinic Tour,UK Spring 2006 >>>
Panther Kitten, Tim (Fellow Drum~Pro&Ex-Student), Ryan (Fellow OCDP Player&Current Student) & I travelled Up to Croyden in South LondoN in the Funk~PantherMobile! >>>

It was a BriGht, Sunny Saturday & the Whole Day went like Clockwork, Smooth & Easy!!! >>>
Billy was Performing a Drum Master~Class sponsored by the London Drum Company & Organised by
mikedolbear.com Nice oNe People!!! >>>

This was a GREAT little Event, which was purposly small & low key to enable Working Drum Professionals like Myself & a small handfull of keen enthusiasts to have Personal & Direct contact with Billy.

Within Minutes of arriving I met Billy Ward & Presented Him with The Daddy Funk Presentation PaCkage & had a RelaXed Chat about Drumming, Trueline Drumsticks & His British Clinic Tour >>>
I found Billy to be Friendly, Open & Very Funny! >>> He is a Sharp Witty MaN, who was Happy to share some Insights with Me & Generally Hang~Out >>>

I would like to again Thank Billy W for Introducing Me to TRUELINE “Power Ball” Drumsticks & helping Me to Secure My Endorsement with this Great Little Company! (CheCk Out My Previous Blog for MORE DETAILS)

Billy Really is a TOP DOG in the Drum~Community & I’m Very Glad to Count Him Now as one of My MaNy International Drummer Friends >>>

If You are oNe of the Few Who don’t know that MuCh about the Man I STRONGLY Suggest You Seek Out His EXCELLENT DVD “Big Time”. For More info go to His Website billyward.com He also has a GoOD Page oN
drummerworld.com whiCh is Well worth a LoOK!!! >>>

Billy Ward is a Great Drum Teacher, Drum~Enthusiast & Groovy Player. His Style & Approach is Very Similar to My Own & it was a HUGE HONOUR to Hang with Him & be INSPIRED by His FRESH, INVENTIVE ApproaCh to the DrumSet >>>
I found His Answers to My Questions on Studio Recording Particularly InsiGhtfull & His LoVe of Trueline Drumsticks as I haVe already said lead to My Subsequent Endorsment …. They REALLY DO Help to Reduce Hand, Wrist & Forearm Fatigue!! >>> We are both also Zildjian Cymbal Endorsees >>> So that’s a BIG 2 Count RiGht There!!!!! >>>

Have a LoOK at the Photo just to the Left of this Blog of BW & DF >>> & CheCk Out the “Photo Gallery” Page on
daddyfunk.com for MORE Photos of this HISTORIC MEETING!! >>>

Speak to You ALL SoON,
PeAcE & Awesome JazZy Vibes,

*** <<< SiMoN GreeNHiLL the DF >>> ***

I’m VERy Happy to Announce that as of Monday 15th May 2006 SiMoN the Daddy Funk is Endorsed by Trueline Drumsticks USA!

Many THANKS to Billy Ward (Who I hooked up wih in South London on Saturday 13th ~ Blog to follow!!!) Check Out the Super~Cool Photo of Billy & I Chatting (by the Gorgeous Pantherkitten) to the Left of this Very Blog!!! Special Thanks to Ian Kershaw @ Atlantic Distribution Ltd for making the whole thing Possible!! >>> You Guys Really ARE the BEST!!! >>>

So let Me say RiGht Now these Drumsticks are AMAZING!!! >>> I Use The Trueline “Tribal Assault” Model featuring their Patented “Power Ball” Grip>>> These things are MENTAL!!! >>>

What a GREAT PAIR of STICKS!!! >>>

These Drumsticks are HAND MADE in Vermont USA from Hand selected Hickory which is Specially Kiln Dried for Flexability & Strength. Billy Ward told Me that in ALL the Touring & Studio Sessions He has done with His Signature Trueline Sticks He’s NEVER Broken a Single Pair!! >>> That’s pretty Amazing! >>>

The Pair I Endorse are Designed in Collaboration with Danny Carey from the Band Tool >>>
What I LOVE about them is the Long Reach (they are apparently 3/8″ Longer than any other Drumstick on the Market)
They’re LIGHT & Very, VERY Comfortable to Hold & Groove with! >>>

The “Power Ball”is an Ergonomically Designed Grip~Shape just behind the Natural “Balance Point” of the Stick. It is Unusual, Original & Frankly PURE DESIGN GENIUS!!! >>> What I have found is this SERIOUSLY REDUCES Hand & Wrist Fatigue >>> I can Play Faster for Longer with these Drumsticks!!! >>> Which is Good News when You do as much Teaching & Studio Drumming as I do! >>>

NiCe oNe Trueline!!! >>>

I HIGHLY RECOMMEND Checking Out the TRUELINE Website which is Informative & has a CALM Vermont Vibe!! Thes Guys have been Hand Crafting their Beautiful Drumsticks since 1981!!! >>>

www.trueline.com

ThaNks to the AnGels of Drums & The Funk for Making the Big Wheels turn in My Favour, Enabling Fate to Smile oN Me in this Groovy Way! >>>

Joy, Respect & Phat SeXy GroOVes to the PlaNet,
Keep it REAL & Let the LiGht Shine,

*** <<< SiMoN the FuNk >>> ***